Notice of Proposed Rule

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Freshwater Fish and Wildlife
RULE NO: RULE TITLE
68A-15.006: Regulations Relating to Miscellaneous Areas
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the proposed rule change is to revise specific area regulations for miscellaneous areas and conform to calendar year date changes. The effect of the proposed rule change will be to enable the agency to better manage fish and wildlife resources and public use on miscellaneous areas.
SUMMARY: The proposed rule change would revise or establish specific area regulations on miscellaneous areas as follows:
Kissimmee River Public Use Area – clarify the references to zonal seasons and antlerless deer season to align with the proposed changes to statewide deer management zones and seasons.
Kissimmee River Chain of Lakes Area - adopt proposed Zone B non-migratory game seasons.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: The agency has determined that this rule will ____or will not __X__have an impact on small business. A SERC has ____ or has not _X_ been prepared by the agency.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution.
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: During the regular meeting of the Commission, February 17-18, 2010, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., each day
PLACE: Franklin County Courthouse, 33 Market Street, Apalachicola, FL 32320
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 5 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: The ADA Coordinator, at (850)488-6411. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Diane R. Eggeman, Director, Division of Hunting and Game Management, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

68A-15.006 Regulations Relating to Miscellaneous Areas.

(1) No change.

(2) Kissimmee River Public Use Area.

(a) No change.

(b) Legal to take: All legal game, wild hog, non-protected mammals, furbearers, fish, and frogs. Antlerless deer may be taken only during the archery seasons and during the first two days of the antlerless eighth and ninth days of the antlered deer seasons for Zone A and C the South and Central Zones, as applicable, established in Rule 68A-13.004, F.A.C. Bag and possession limits and shooting hours shall be those established under Rules 68A-13.003, 68A-13.004 and 68A-13.008, F.A.C., except that shooting hours for turkeys during the spring season shall be from one-half hour before sunrise until 1:00 p.m.

(c) No change.

(3) Babcock Ranch Preserve.

(a) Open season (in the designated hunting area):

1. Archery – September 11-14 12-15 and 18-21 19-22.

2. Muzzleloading gun – October 15-17 16-18.

3. Family – October 30-31 31-November 1 and January 1-2 2-3.

4. General gun for mobility-impaired – October 22-24 23-25.

5. General gun – November 12-14 13-15, 19-21 20-22 and December 17-19 18-20.

6. Small game – January 8-23 9-24 and February 5-6 6-7 (Saturdays and Sundays only).

7. Spring turkey – March 5-7 6-8 and 12-14 13-15.

8. No change.

(b) No change.

(c) General regulations:

1. through 3. No change.

4. The use of tracked vehicles, airboats, all-terrain vehicles, unlicensed and unregistered unregisterd motorcycles and swamp buggies is prohibited, except that all-terrain vehicles may be used during the general gun for mobility-impaired season by certified mobility-impaired hunters.

5. through 14. No change.

(4) Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Area.

(a) Open season:

1. Non-migratory game – During Zonal seasons established under Rule 68A-13.004, F.A.C., except deer and turkey shall only be taken during those seasons established for Zone B.

2. through 3. No change.

(b) through (c) No change.

PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2010.

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art IV, Sec 9, Fla. Const. History–New 12-9-99, Amended 5-13-02, 5-1-03, 5-23-04, 7-1-06, 7-1-08, 7-1-09, 7-1-10.

 

BE ADVISED THAT THESE PROPOSED RULES MAY BE FILED FOR ADOPTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOLLOWING THE COMMISSION MEETING AT WHICH THEY ARE CONSIDERED IF THE RULES ARE NOT CHANGED. IF CHANGED, THE RULES MAY BE FILED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER PUBLICATION OF A NOTICE OF CHANGE IN THE F.A.W.


NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Diane R. Eggeman, Director, Division of Hunting and Game Management, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600
NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: December 9, 2009
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: December 11, 2009